Switch-point rail.



B. B. BETTSA SWITCH POINT RAH.-

APPLICATION FILED JAN.29. I917.

Patented. Jan. 8, 1918.

2 WEETSHEFT l B. B. BETTS.

SWITCH POINTRAIL.

APPLICATION mm mmzs, 1911.

lg figv n Patented Jan. 8,1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

BENJAMIN B. BETTS, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

SWITCH-POINT RAIL.

Application filed January 29, 1917.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN B. Burrs, a citizen of the United States, and resident of St. Louis, Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Switch-Point Rails, of which the following is a specification containing a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming apart hereof.

My invention relates to improvements in switch point guards, wherein there is provided means for guarding a switch point whether the switch is open or closed.

The object of my improvement is to provide a switch point guard for each of the switch points, said guard being preferably formed integral at a small expense and easy of installation, whereby when in use excessive wear is prevented and the life of the switch point is prolonged. It also prevents the breaking of switch points, and guards against accident in case of a broken switch point. In the accompanying drawings made a part of this specification,

Figure 1 is a plan view of a switch of an ordinary construction, showing my invention applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a perspective View of one of my switch point guards, the left or top one shown in Fig. 2 and,

Fig. 3 is the transverse section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, 4 indicates the main rail, 5 the siding rail, 6 the switch point rail for the siding, and 7 the switch point rail for the main rail.

The switch point rails 6 and 7 may be of the ordinary construction, and are connected at their ends in any suitable manner by the ordinary switch throw bar or rod 8.

9 indicates my improved switch point guard, which is cast or formed preferably in one piece, which is when constructed approximately five feet in length, and weighs probably in the nei hborhood of 17 5 or 180 pounds. The guard for each point is the same in construction, but made in rights and lefts, the perspective view in Fig. 2 illustrating the left guard point or that one shown at the upper left hand corner in Fig. 1.

The guard is formed with three tie plates, having running rail seats 10, 11 and 12, each of which is provided with spike openings 13, and a shoulder 14 for the usual rail brace Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 8, 1918.

Serial No. 145,152.

1o. Two of said tie plates are further provided wlth elevated seats 16 and 17 for the switch point rail 6, and the remainder of said tie plates is provided with an upstandmg brace 18, which is adapted to seat itself underneath the ball of the main running rail, there being a recess 19 formed beneath said brace to receive one of the flanges of the main or running rail 4. The opposite ends of thetie plates are provided with the usual spike openings 20.

Formed integral with the tie plates is an upstanding laterally inclined web 21, there being bracing flanges 22 formed integral with the web 21, and the tie plates. Formed integral with the web 21 is a laterally projecting flange 23, which occupies, when the guard is in use, a substantially horizontal position and above the treads of the rails, said flange 23 (referring to the left guard or that one illustrated in the upper left hand corner of Fig. 1) at its rear end slopes slightly downward as at 24, and has a rounded corner 25, while at its front end it has a beveled edge 26.

Formed integral with the upstanding brace 18 and the flange 23 is a web 27, which braces or strengthens both the brace 18 and the flange 23.

In Fig. 1 I have shown the switch in a position for siding purposes, wherein it will be observed that the end of the switch point rail 7 is pocketed, as it were, beneath the flange 23. In other words, the flange 23 and the web 21 forms, as it were, a pocket, for one of the switch points either when the switch is open or closed. In the illustration in Fig. 1 the switch point of the rail 7 is pocketed. When the switch is reversed; that is, if using the main line, the switch point 6 would be pocketed.

It will be observed from the foregoing that one of the switch points 6 or 7 is pocketed whether the switch be open or closed. Furthermore, should one of the switch points become broken in advance of its connection with the switch throw bar, the opposite guard or the edge of the flange 23 will maintain the wheels in the proper position from striking the broken switch point.

By placing the guards, as illutrated in Fig. 1, it will be observed that flanges 23 or the edges of said flanges, maintain the Wheels in the proper position to prevent ex-- cessive wear of the switch points, and thus prolong the life of the same. Also minimizes the breaking of switch points and guard against accident in case of a broken switch point.

It will be observed that the edges 23 of the guard will maintain and define the path of travel of the wheel flanges. In Fig. 1 the switch point 7 is protected by the flange 23 by being pocketed beneath it, and the edge 23 of the lower guard coming in contact with the inside face of the wheel will protect the switch point 6. I

It will be observed in Fig; 1 that the switch points are located directly opposite; that is to say, one not in advance of the other and consequently the guards are located directly opposite each other, and the flanges 23 thereof, as heretofore stated, protect the switch points from excessive wear and the liability of being broken, and guard against accidents in case of a broken switch point. and further it will be observed, as-

shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, that the web 21, against which the switch point strikes, will support the switch point in case the wheels should come in contact with same, in which event the switch point itself will act as an additional guard.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A guard for switch points provided with tie plates, a web connecting said tie plates and a laterally projecting flange formed integral with said web, beneath which a switch point is adapted to be positioned. 1

2. A guard for switch points comprising tie plates with seatsfor a main rail, and seats in different elevation for a switch point rail, a web connecting said tie plates and a laterally projecting flange formed integral with said web. 7

- 8. A'guard for switch points comprising a series of tie plates provided with rail beari11 seats of different elevations, and one thereof being provided with a recess adapt- .ed to receive'a rail base'flange, a webconnecting said tie plates and being disposed at an angle thereto, and a laterally projecting flange integrally formed with said web and disposed in a plane above the treads of the track rails.

a. A guard for switch points comprising a series of tie plates provided with rail bearing seats of diflerent elevations, a web connecting said tie plates, and a laterally proj cting flange carried by'said web, and positioned substantially parallel with said tie plates, an upstanding brace adapted to be positioned beneath the ball of a rail carried by one of said tie plates, and a web connecting said brace and said flange.

A Hard for switch points comprising a tie plate, a web carried by said tie plate,

a laterally projecting flange carried by said web beneath which a switch point is adapted to be positioned, anupstanding brace adapted to be positioned beneath the ball of a rail, there being a recess between said upstanding brace and tie plate adapted to receive a base flange of a rail, anda web eonncct-ing said brace and said flange.

a series of tie plates, said tie plates being providedwith rail seatsof different elevations,.and a shoulder fora rail brace, a web connecting said tieplates, a laterallyprojecting and overhanging flange carried by said web, beneath which a switch point is adapted to be located, an upstanding rail brace carried by one of said tie plates, there being a recess beneath said rail base and the tie plate for receiving a base flange and a web connecting said rail brace and said lat erally projecting flangef In testimony whereof, Ihave signed my name to this specification, in presence of two subscribing witnesses. I

' BENJAMIN l3. BETTE. Witnesses: H

R. G. ORWIG, MINNIE E. Knnn. I

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing, the fiooinmissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G.

o. A guard for switch points comprising 

